Sprayer



D. O. RAPER May 1, 1945.

' SPRAYER Filed Aug. 2, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet l wwb. n r r. uwWW Doyle aimv67;

INVENTOR.

W1 TNESSES: 30 a ATTORNEYS y 1945- D. o. RAPER 2,374,955

SPRAYER Filed Aug. 2, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Boyle alfapei;

I WITNESSES: V EA R.

ATTORNEYS Patented May 1, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SPRAYER Doyle0. Raper, Arbuckle, Calif.

Application August 2, 1943, Serial No. 497,064

2 Claims.

My invention relates to the application of spraying solutions toorchards and the like, and has among its objects and advantages theprovision of an improved sprayer designed to be car'- riedon a tractor,wherein the sprayer is so devised as to be readily operated by thedriver of the tractor, and in which the sprayer embodies noveladjustment for directing the sprayed solution in a desired manner.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view illustrating my invention applied toa conventional tractor;

Figure 2 is a sectional detail view of a slotted p y pe;

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the structure illustrated in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a side view of the sprayer with portlons broken away for thepurpose of illustration; and

Figure 5 is a detail view of the sprayer adjustment for directing thesprayed solution at different angles.

In the embodiment selected for illustration, I make use of aconventional tractor preferably of the caterpillar type, the rear endportion of which is illustrated at III in Figure 1. A frame I2 is boltedto the tractor through the medium of brace arms I4. Upon a frame I6mounted on the tractor is located a solution-containing tank I8 providedwith a lid 28 for filling purposes.

A filter 22 is tapped into the tank I8 at its bottom and is providedwith a pipe 24 leading to a pump 26 of the rotary type. A pipe 28 isconnected at one end with the pump 26 and at the other end with aflexible hose 38 connected with a T coupling 32. The short lengths ofhose 34 are connected with the T coupling 32 and with elbows 36 eachconnected with one end of a spray pipe 38 extending transversely of aspray nozzle 48. Slots 42 are provided in the spray pipe 38 throughwhich the spraying solution is forced under pressure by reason of thepump 26. The pump sprocket 42 is connected with a chain 44 which passesaround a sprocket 46 keyed to a shaft 48 supported in bearings 58mounted on the frame I2 and in bearings 52 mounted on the end walls ofthe tank I8, this shaft extending longitudinally inside the tank a shortdistance above its bottom. A flexible coupling 54 is interposed in theshaft 48. Bearings 56 mounted on the frame I2 rotatably support theshaft 58 to which the pump sprocket 42 is keyed.

' Two grooved wheels 68 are keyed to the shaft 48 for connection with Vbelts 62 passing over grooved wheels 64 keyed to a fan shaft 66rotatably supported in bearings 68 mounted or the frame I2. Threegrooved wheels I8 are keyed to the shaft 66 for connection with V beltsI2 passing around grooved wheels I4 connected as a unit with a powertake-off shaft 16 of the tractor.

Upon the fan shaft 66 is mounted a fan housing I8 having acircumferential wall 88 and removable end walls 82 bolted to flanges 84secured to the circumferential wall 88. At least one of the end walls 82is provided with air inlet openings 86, and fan blades 88 are fixedlysecured to the fan shaft 66. The nozzle 48 is secured to thecircumferential wall 88 and the latter is provided with an air. outletopening 98 communicating with the funnel-shaped nozzle 48, when viewedaccording to Figure 4., However, the nozzle is flattened when viewedaccording to Figures 1 and 3 so as to provide a slot-like opening 92within which the spray pipe 38 is positioned, the slot being slightlywider than the outside diameter of the pipe to provide escape for airunder pressure between the pipe and the two side walls of the nozzle.

The nozzle 48 is arranged so as to discharge the spray laterally fromthe direction of travel of the tractor and immediately in the rearthereof. The spraying solution is under pressure in the spray pipe 38and the fan in the housing I8 creates an air blast which effectivelycarries the spraying solution in a mist-like formation to its place ofapplication on the growth being sprayed.

Means are provided for rotating the fan housil'lg I8 about the axis ofthe fan shaft 66 to change the angularity of the nozzle 48 to the endthat the spraying solution may be applied to growths of differentheights. A bell-crank 94 is pivoted at 96 on one of the arms I4, and onearm of the bell crank is pivotally connected with one end of a rod 98having its other end pivotally connected with a lever I86. The other armof the bell crank 94 is pivotally connected with a link I82 pivotallyconnected at I84 with one of the side plates 82 of the fan housing. Thusthe fan housing may be rotated through manipulation of the lever I88 forvarying the angularity of the nozzle 48.

The sprayer in the instant case is mounted on the tractor so as toeliminate the necessity of hooking a spraying machine in the rear of thetractor. The sprayer is relatively light in weight but is sufficientlypowerful in its action to perform an efficient spraying function. Inmountin the spray mechanism on a tractor of the caterpillar type, thetractor may be operated in fields which are relatively wet without doingharm to the soil or miring the -machine. More important, the sprayer isso arranged on the tractor as to be I08 are mounted on the shaft 48inside the tank ll for thoroughly mixing the Spraying solution. Apressure gage l Ill i tapped into the pipe I8, and a pressure regulatorH2 is interposed in a pipe I I 4 communicating with the tank I8 and thepipe II! to the gage H0, the pipe H8 being tapped into the pipe 28.

Without further elaboration, the foregoing will so fully illustrate myinvention, that others may, by applying current knowledge, readily adaptthe same for use under various conditions of service.

I claim:

'1. In a sprayer for use with powered vehicles having a power take-off,a rotary shaft having a Ian mounted thereon, a fan housing enclosing thefan and having an elongated nozzle, said fan housing being adlustable tofix the position of the nozzle, a slotted tube in the nozzles, pressuremeans for delivering spray material to both ends 01' the slotted tubeand including a spray supply tank, a pump, and conduits from the supplytank to the pump and from the pump to the tube.

2. In a sprayer for use with a powered vehicle having a. power take-off,a rotary shaft having a fan mounted thereon, an adjustable fan housingenclosing the tan and having a relatively narrow elongated nozzle, aslotted tube in the nozzle and extending from top to bottom thereof andspmed from its sides to prevent air under pressure to pass about thetube, pressure means for delivering spray material to both ends of thetube and including a spray material supply tank, 'a pump connected withthe tank and a flexible conduit having branch connections, one leadingto each end 01' the tube, and manual operating means connected with thetan housing to adjust the position of the same to directthe discharge ofthe nozzle.

DOYLE O. RAPER.

